Documents: search of home where abducted girl was slain finds binder of child porn; what defendant told police

Feb. 21, 2014

Springfield police and the FBI process the crime scene at 1538 East Stanford Street in Springfield, MO., after Craig Michael Wood was arrested at this location. The body of Hailey Owens, 10, was confirmed by police to be found at this location.

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A $1 million trust for the defendantA Greene County prosecutor challenged Craig Michael Wood’s request for a public defender after he said police found evidence Wood has a $1 million trust in his name. During a video arraignment this morning Wood was formally charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and child kidnapping in the death of 10-year-old Hailey Owens. Hailey was abducted and killed Tuesday evening in Springfield. Eight of Hailey’s family members attended the arraignment in Judge Dan Imhoff’s courtroom, though they did not speak. Wood, seen in a video monitor wearing a large black vest, had asked for a public defender to represent him. But prosecutor Todd Myers said authorities had found evidence of a $1 million trust in Wood’s home, where Hailey’s body also was discovered. Myers said Wood “clearly had the means” to pay for his own defense and that it would be an “inappropriate use of public funds” for Wood to be granted a public defender. Wood has been assigned public defender Chris Hatley who told the court “While I appreciate Mr. Myers’ concern for my client’s rights, it’s frankly none of his business.” Hatley said Wood had followed the appropriate procedures to apply for a public defender. The question of whether Wood is eligible for a public defender will be addressed in a court hearing at 9 a.m. on March 19. What kind of trust is at issue in the case is unclear. There are many kinds. In general, a trust is a way for a trustee to hold assets for the benefit of a beneficiary. Wood spoke only once, saying “I’m not sure I understand” when Imhoff asked whether Wood wanted the charges read aloud. When Imhoff read the charge of armed criminal action involving a deadly weapon, Wood appeared to display a look of significant surprise, raising both eyebrows as the charge was read.

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Newly released documents detailing the search of the home where authorities believe 10-year-old Hailey Owens was killed say police found a three-ring binder containing “pornographic images of young children.”

Authorities say they also seized computers and cameras in Craig Michael Wood’s home.

“I know based upon training and experience that suspects of child abductions or child homicides are often found to have possession of child pornography or have viewed child pornography,” the search warrant return said.

The warrant also says officers noticed bleach in several rooms in the home and that the sheets and pillows were not on Wood’s bed.

Seized at the house, documents say, were bottles of bleach, at least a dozen guns, several DVDs, two video cameras and “stories written on notebook paper.” What kind of stories is not noted.

Authorities sought two search warrants for Wood’s home at 1538 E. Stanford St., Springfield after Tuesday’s abduction and slaying of Hailey Owens.

The first warrant sought evidence in the abduction and death. That warrant was signed at 1:28 a.m. Wednesday.

During a search, police also say they found a maroon hat. Witnesses to Hailey’s abduction reported the suspect wearing a maroon ball cap.

What Wood told police

While voluntarily being interviewed by police, Wood, 45, appeared to have blood on his shirt, search warrant documents note.

Both Wood and his clothing were processed for potential evidence. Officers also noted he smelled of bleach.

Wood told authorities that he left work at Pleasant View Elementary and Middle School, where he works as as teacher’s assistant and coach, at 3:15 p.m. and went straight home. He told police he later walked his dog and ran errands. He said he was driving in the area of Missouri State University and areas west of there.

Confronted with witness statements that his truck was at the scene of the abduction, Wood denied taking Hailey.

“Craig denied that he had contacted any young children or girls,” the document says.

More details about neighbors trying to help

The “probable cause” section of the search warrant, which tells a judge why the warrant should be approved, offers some details from the abduction scene not previously noted by authorities.

Carlos Edwards and wife Michelle of West Lombard Street had been identified as neighbors who tried to stop the 10-year-old’s abduction as it happened about 5 p.m. on West Lombard Street, as Hailey was walking from a friend’s home. The Edwardses quickly got information to the police. The new search documents say Carlos also “began to knock on doors trying to locate the girl’s family.”

Carlos was able to find out where Hailey lived after seeing “a young boy outside” and describing “the abducted girl to the boy.” Carlos was told by the boy that the description “matched his sister,” and took Carlos to Hailey’s nearby home on Page Street, the documents say.

At that time, according to police, Wood was in his father’s pickup truck with Hailey. Where specifically police believe he went from there isn’t clear.

Police used a license plate number from Michelle Edwards to track the truck to Wood’s father in Ash Grove. He told them his son used the truck and police found Wood outside Wood’s home, about 8:30 p.m.

Hailey’s body, police say, was later found inside. Police say she had been shot in the head and placed inside black trash bags inside a large plastic storage container in the northeast corner of Wood’s basement.